Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-28
A CONVENIENT PACK HORSE.

During the early months of President
Cleveland's administration every embar
raised man OF business who had some diff
Guilty or some modesty about explaining
the true reason for his cramped finances
Or bankruptcy evened up matters by attrib'
uting it to the unsettled condition O
affairs arising from the change in the ad.
ministration. In the same manner it has
been fashionable in the West among Repub.
lican prints to attribute every i'll com.
planned of by communities or individuals
to the ''atrocious land policy of the
administration. Cattle kings and honest
settlers of the Steve Dorsey variety have
been ruined without number by Commits.
sioner Sparks and Secretary Lamar. And
not a few mining companies, according to
Republican figuring, have been s~wanped
or are on the verge OF going under through
the same agencies.
Now the Interstate Commerce act is to
serve a similar purpose. It is a most con-
venient pack horse OF which to load the
disabled in the bnsinass conflict, and,
"hifo oankrupts will not hesitate to at
tribute their misfortunes to it, the railroad
organs will see to it hat the people are
fully informed, without delay, OF the "dis.
astrous effects" OF the measure. Now
what does the Inter. State Commerce law
provide for? Is it aimed at any person or
any interest doing business fairly and hon.
estly? LIS there a word or line it which is
calculated to make a discrimination in ia
Vnr nj ono rro IN vo:n o--Ll-.-a ~
at all.
The law specifically prohibits these in
justices and provides penalties for offenders.
1t makes discrimination a penal offense.
1t provides that all rates shall be reason
able and just. It gives the commissioners
power to investigate and pass upon
disputed points and to bring offenders to
An interest which complains
that the Inter State Commerce law has
killed it confesses, therefore, that it was
one OF the pampered interests against
which the law was aimed. It had survived
by mean OF the favors of the railroads.
could not survive after those favors had
been withdrawn. Such an industry is of
value to the country. 1t is worse than |
! protected industry. It is a leach, living |
of Others. Under the old system these
not the industries that went to the
vail. Thu industries which were crushed
out by favoritism were legitimate, healthy
useful. They were stabbed in the
'ark by cut rates. Economy, industry
md sagacity awaited their conductors
Nothing as against the discriminating rate |
'ranted by ONE railroad Car to a rival.
Thu Interstate Commerce law is a
Measure in the interest of justice in the
transportation world. It takes from the
abroad the power which it has long en-
Dyed to enrich one man and to ruin an.
'ther and to build up one town and to
estroy the other. 1t has many imperfec-
ions, no doubt, but they are principally
ne to a fear on the part of Congress hat
would be all right instead OF partly right.
t will ruin nobody who does not deserve
D be ruined. 1t calls for fair and even.
anded rates to all alike. 1t discriminates
gainst nobody. Instead OF begetting
buses it does away with them. And
lough there were very many newspapers
the country that at first were disposed
} condemn the Law they now, after be-
'ming more familiar with it's workings. /!
cognlze its value to the people and are :
in accord with the Commission in s
le work OF interpreting and enforcing it.